The Avista Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Spokane, Washington, established in 2002. It operates as a community investment program of Avista Corp., providing funding to nonprofit organizations across the service territories of Avista Utilities and affiliated utilities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.9M
-6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
607
-4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Avista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $446K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Education — K-12 science, math, and technology education; higher education; college scholarships for engineering, information systems, and crafts; increasing the pipeline of students seeking engineering and technical careers; opportunities for underserved students
- Energy Conservation — Programs addressing energy efficiency and conservation
- Community Economic Development — Capital projects providing civic and social infrastructure; community events and programs that provide community identity and quality of life
- Science — Scientific advancement and education
- Senior Citizens — Programs serving older adults
- Economically Disadvantaged People — Support for low-income individuals and underserved populations
- Arts and Culture — Community events and cultural programming
- Health and Human Services — Various health and human service initiatives
- Environmental Efforts — Conservation and environmental protection initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $350,000
How to Apply
** Organizations can apply through the Avista Foundation website at www.avistafoundation.org, described as "the single, easy point of entry for all of our philanthropy program applications."
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding to communities and citizens served by:
- Avista Utilities in eastern Washington
- Northern Idaho
- Portions of southern Oregon
- Sanders County, Montana
- The City and Borough of Juneau (served by Alaska Electric Light and Power Co.)
The foundation funds projects across numerous cities and states including Seattle, Portland, and Denver, with a broad geographic reach across multiple regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11.9 million
- Annual Revenue: $1.22 million
- Annual Expenses: $2.08 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Additional Financial Data:
- Assets reported at $12.6 million in some filings
- Annual expenses reported at $2.4 million in other filings
- Annual revenue reported at $4.1 million in some sources
Tax Status: Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization since September 2002
EIN: 75-3003371
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,853,755 | $12,636,988 | $10,445,318 |
| Revenue | $1,223,797 | $4,078,929 | $508,679 |
| Expenses | $2,078,443 | $2,441,563 | $1,315,444 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,045,737 | $2,423,956 | $1,298,669 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,191,091 | $1,061,314 | $491,904 |
| Distributable Amount | $446,078 | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from The Avista Foundation
Arts and Culture Proposals Grant
THE AVISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Avista Foundation Sponsorships
THE AVISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Economic and Community Vitality Proposals Grant
THE AVISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include AWB Institute ($25,000), Career Path Services ($25,000), Ahana ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Phoenix Community Center Phoenix, OR | General Support | $1,000 |
| 90 Project Spokane, WA | Dollars for Doers | $200 |
| ABC Food Bank Athol, ID | Food Bank Donation | $400 |
| Academics Are Cool Colber, WA | Math is Cool Program | $750 |
| Access Inc Medford, OR | Food Bank Donation | $400 |
| Active4youth Spokane, WA | Busses for Free Cross Country Program | $4,000 |
| Addy Rescue Mission Addy, WA | Food Bank Donation | $400 |
| AHANA Spokane, WA | Support for Start-Up | $10,000 |
| All Heart Infusion Spokane, WA | Infusing with Love 2024 | $500 |
| American Heart Association Inc Dallas, TX | Matching Gifts | $54 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Latisha Hill — President
- Kristine Meyer — Executive Director
- Anne Marie Axworthy — Listed in organizational records
Board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latisha Hill | President | 4 | — |
| Tracy Van Orden | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Kristine Meyer | Executive Director | 1 | — |
| Alec Mesdag | Director | 1 | — |
| David J Meyer | Director | 1 | — |
| Steve Vincent | Director | 1 | — |
| Kevin Christie | Director | 1 | — |
| Chris Schlothauer | Director | 1 | — |
| Dennis Vermillion | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Heather Rosentrater | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced multiple grant awards in recent periods:
Avista Foundation awards 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, artsAwarded 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, arts and culture, and community initiatives across the Northwest
Avista Foundation awards 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, artsAnnounced 27 grants to support local initiatives
Avista Foundation awards 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, artsConducts quarterly grant announcements and year-end grant totals
Avista Foundation awards 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, artsContact Information
- Website: www.avistafoundation.org
- Email: contributions@avistacorp.com
- Phone: 509-495-8156 or 509-495-4738
- Mailing Address: Avista Foundation, MSC-68, PO Box 3727, Spokane, WA 99220-3727
- Physical Address: 1411 E Mission Ave, Spokane, WA 99202-1902
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Avista Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • **Education** — K-12 science, math, and technology education; higher education; college scholarships for engineering, information systems, and crafts; increasing the pipeline of students seeking engineering and technical careers; opportunities for underserved students • **Energy Conservation** — Programs addressing energy efficiency and conservation • **Community Economic Development** — Capital projects providing civic and social infrastru…
How do I apply for a grant from The Avista Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $350,000 **Active Funding Categories:** • Arts and Culture Proposals • Avista Foundation Sponsorships • Economic and Community Vitality Proposals • Education and Youth Development Proposals • Health and Human Service Proposals **Recent Activity:** The foundation awarded 76 grants supporting environmental efforts, arts and culture, and other initiatives across the Northwest in recent announcements. **Application Process:** Organizations can a…
Where does The Avista Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding to communities and citizens served by: • Avista Utilities in eastern Washington • Northern Idaho • Portions of southern Oregon • Sanders County, Montana • The City and Borough of Juneau (served by Alaska Electric Light and Power Co.) The foundation funds projects across numerous cities and states including Seattle, Portland, and Denver, with a broad geographic reach across multiple regions.
What size grants does The Avista Foundation award?
In 2024, The Avista Foundation awarded 607 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Avista Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Avista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $446K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Avista Foundation's EIN?
The Avista Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-3003371. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Avista Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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